Semi-trailer shipping support structure

ABSTRACT

A sheet supporting rack has (1) a base including a pair of spaced elongated runners detachably secured on flatbed of a trailer; (2) a back support including a strut mounted on each of the runners; and (3) a front restraint including an upright slidably mounted on each of the runners. The sheets are mounted in a generally vertical position with an edge of the sheet supported on the base, and a major surface of the sheets supported by the back support. The uprights of the front restraint are slid and angled with respect to the runners to urge the sheets against the back support and to secure the uprights in position on the runners to prevent movement of the sheets during shipment thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to racks that are assembled on flatbeds ofvehicles, e.g., open-top trailers, for shipping sheets, e.g., glasssheets.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art and Technical Problems

One mode of transporting glass sheets between locations is to load thesheets on racks mounted on flatbed of railcars or trailers. The racksused are preferably of the type than can be assembled for shipping thesheets and thereafter disassembled to maximize space in the trailer forcarrying return lading. Prior art racks that are assembled anddisassembled in trailers are taught in

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,596,755 3,848,917 3,878,942 3,939,780 3,955,676.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,569,755 teaches a glass shipping rack which includesslanting opposed walls for supporting glass sheets and an internalV-shaped member for urging the glass sheets toward the outer supportingsurfaces U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,917 teaches a truck for shipping glasssheets in which the sheets are supported on members having theirsupporting surface lying in a plane parallel to the direction of travel.U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,878,942 and 3,955,676 teach an adjustable shipping rackwhich includes spaced A-shaped members each having slanting surfaces forsupporting the sheets. Outer restraint members urge the sheets againstthe supporting surface of the A-shaped members. U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,780teaches a rack for shipping glass sheets in which the glass sheets aresupported in a vertical position by adjustable members engaging each ofthe outer surfaces of the stack.

Although the racks taught in the above-identified patents are acceptablefor their intended purposes, they have limitations. One of thelimitations is that the sheets are mounted with the major surfaces ofthe sheets parallel to the walls of the trailer. A disadvantage withthis arrangement is that the spaced distance between the prior art racksand adjacent walls of the trailers is narrow and therefore overheadequipment, e.g., a crane having a spreader bar and sling assembly areemployed to clear the walls of the trailer and load the sheets on theracks. As can be appreciated, the loading and unloading of the sheetscould be expedited if the sheets were loaded on the rack without thenecessity of clearing the trailer walls and manipulating the sheets in aconfined space, e.g., between the racks and adjacent trailer wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a collapsible rack for use in combination witha flatbed of a vehicle, e.g., an open top trailer. The collapsible rackincludes a pair of spaced elongated runners detachably secured to theflatbed with their longitudinal axis generally parallel to the directionof vehicle travel. A back support mounts each of the runners forsupporting the sheets to be shipped in a generally vertical position.Retaining facilities are provided for securing the sheets against theback support.

This invention also relates to a method of loading sheets on the flatbedof the trailer which includes the steps of detachably securing a pair oflongitudinal runners in spaced relation to one another to the flatbedand mounting an upright on each of the runners to provide a backwallhaving its plane transverse to longitudinal axis of the runners andperpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel. The sheets arepositioned on edge in a generally vertical position supported by thebackwall after which the sheets are secured in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevated view of an open top trailer and truckarrangement having sheet supporting racks incorporating features of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the trailer and truck arrangement shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevated view of a rack incorporating features of theinvention loaded with sheets;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the loaded rack shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a section of a runner of the base showing agroove for limiting rotational movement of the vertical strut of theback support in accordance to the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the section of the runner shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another section of the runner of the baseshowing a groove formed on one side of the runner for preventingrotational movement of the slanting strut of the back support inaccordance to the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the section of the runner shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view as viewed in FIG. 3 of the vertical strut of theback support;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the vertical strut shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view as viewed in FIG. 3 of the slanting strut of theback support;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the slanting strut shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a front view of the front restraint as viewed in FIG. 3incorporating features of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, sheets 20 are secured on racks 22incorporating features of the invention mounted on flatbed 24 of trailer26 powered by truck 27. As will be appreciated, the invention is notlimited to the type of trailer that may be used and the invention may bepracticed with open-top trailers, closed-top trailers, flatbeds oftrucks and flatbeds of railcars. With continued reference to FIG. 1 andspecific reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the racks 22 are identicalin construction and include a base 28 secured to the flatbed 24 forsupporting the edges 29 of the sheets 20 (see FIG. 3); a back support 30for supporting the sheets in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 3; anda front restraint system 32 for securing the sheets in position.

The base 28 may be built onto the flatbed during construction of thetrailer or may be mounted on the flatbed of a constructed trailer. Themanner of mounting the base 28 on a flatbed 24 is not limiting to theinvention. For example and with specific reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, thebase 28 may include longitudinal runners 34 each have a plurality ofspaced passageways 36 formed therein for receiving plates 38. The plates38 are leveled by shims 39 and detachably secured to the flatbed 24 inany conventional manner, e.g., doubleheaded nails 42 may be used tosecure wooded plates 38 and shims 39.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the back support 30 includesa generally vertical rigid strut 44 having one end 46 detachably securedto its respective runner 34 by a nut and bolt assembly 48, and aslanting rigid strut 50 having end 52 detachably secured to itsrespective runner 34 by nut and bolt assembly 53. The end 54 of thestrut 50 is detachably secured to end 56 of the vertical strut 44 by nutand bolt assembly 57. The ends 46 and 52 of the struts 44 and 50,respectively, are secured to their respective runner 28 to preventcollapsing of the back support 30 during deceleration of the truck 27.This may be accomplished by providing grooves 58 and 60 (see FIGS. 3,and 5-8) in the runners 34 for receiving the ends 46 and 52 of thestruts 44 and 50.

Although not limiting the invention, it is recommended that the plane ofthe back support 30 and the plane of the base 28 subtend an obliqueangle for stacking stability during loading and unloading of the sheets.Further, it is recommended that the vertical struts 44 have a wide sheetengaging surface to eliminate point contact forces acting on thesupported sheets. Still further, it is recommended that the longitudinalaxis of the runners 34 be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe flatbed 24 e.g., parallel to the direction of trailer travel. Withthis arrangement, the sheets may be loaded on the racks 20 by a vehicle,e.g., a fork lift truck (not shown), moving onto the flatbed 24 of thetrailer 26 and/or by a sling and spreader bar assembly (not shown).

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 13, the front restraint 32 includes apair of vertical uprights 64, each pivotably mounted at 66 to platform68 (clearly shown in FIG. 13). With specific reference to FIG. 13, theplatform 68 is slidably mounted on upper surface 70 of its respectiverunner, e.g., I beam 34. A pair of fingers 72-72 are mounted to theplatform 68 by a nut and bolt assemblies 74 to provide a dog clutchassembly for engaging surface 76 of the runner 34 as shown in FIG. 13.In use and with continued reference to FIG. 13, the platform 68 is slidalong its respective runner against the outermost stacked sheets afterwhich the nut and bolt assemblies 74 are lightened to urge fingers 72-72against the surface 76 of its respective runner 34. The upright 64 isthereafter urged against the outermost stacked sheet i.e., angled withrespect to the runner, to urge (1) the sheets toward the back support 30and (2) the fingers 72-72 into the surface 76 to secure the uprights 68in position. With reference to FIG. 3, a ratchet and strap assembly 78has one end 80 engaging the back support 30 and the other end 82engaging the front restraint 32 to (1) maintain the upright 64 in alocked position and (2) to urge the sheets 20 together between the backsupport 30 and the front restraint 32.

As can now be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the types ofsheets that may be loaded on the racks of the instant invention. Forexample, the sheets may be glass sheets, wooden sheets or metal sheets,or the sheets may be multiple glazed units. If the sheets to be shippedare easily marred, for example glass sheets, it is recommended thatsurfaces contacting the glass sheets be covered with a nonmarringcushioning material, e.g., rubber, cardboard and/or insulation board.Further it is recommended that spacers be used between plurality ofsheets to facilitate handling the sheets during loading and unloading.Further, as can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to theactual construction or material of the rack components. However, it isrecommended that the material be lightweight to reduce the weight of therack thereby increasing allowable shipping load and that the materialused provides a rack that is structurally stable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is used for shipping glasssheets 20 on racks 22 incorporating features of the invention mounted onflatbed 24 of open-top trailer 26 of the type used in the art.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the racks 22 are identical inconstruction and each include a base 28 made from a pair of longitudinalrunners 34 on a center to center spacing of about 54 inches (1.371meters). Each of the runners 34 are made of two aluminum 6 inch 5.4pound I beams. The main I beam is about 120 inches (3 meters) long andextension I beam is about 44 inches (1.1 meters) long. The extension Ibeam is joined to the main I beam by a pair of about 1/2 inch (1.27centimeter) thick, 12 inch (0.3 meter) long and 4 inches (0.1 meter)wide aluminum plates 84 (one only shown in FIG. 3) in any conventionalmanner. With continued reference to FIG. 3, five passageways 36 areformed in the web of the I beam runners 34. Each of the passageways 36have a height of about 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) and a length of about6 inches (15.24 centimeters) for receiving a wooded board 38 about 2inches (5.08 centimeters) high, 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) wide, and18 inches (0.45 meter) long. The passageways 36 as viewed in FIG. 3 areon a center to right end of beam spacing of about 29 inches (0.731meters), 59 inches (1.498 meters), 107 inches (2.176 meters), 131 inches(3.236 meters), 153 inches (3.886 meters). The boards 38 passing throughthe passageways 36 of the I beam runners 34 are leveled by wooden shims39 and nailed to the flatbed 24 by doubleheaded nails 42 as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 with the longitudinal axis of the runners 34 parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the flatbed 24, e.g., parallel to the directionof travel.

In the following discussion, unless indicated otherwise, the anglemembers of back support 30 and front restraint 32 are made of 1/4 inch(0.64 centimeter) thick aluminum angle members having a short leg about3 inches (7.62 centimeters) wide and a long leg about 4 inches (10.16centimeters) wide.

Referring to FIG. 3, the back support 30 includes a vertical rigid strut44 and a slanting rigid strut 50 detachably secured to each runner 34 bya nut and bolt assembly 48 and 53 respectively. With reference to FIGS.9 and 10, the vertical strut 44 is made of a pair of angle members 86having a length of about 761/4 inches (1.937 meters). The short leg ofthe members 86 are spaced about 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) apart byabout 10 spaced 31/2 inch (8.9 centimeters) long, 5/8 inches (1.6centimeters) diameter pins 88 as shown in FIG. 10. A pair of aluminumshims 90, each about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick, 3 inches (7.62centimeters) wide and 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) long are mounted onthe short legs of the angle members 86 adjacent end 46 to reduce thespacing between the members 86 to about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) toprovide a snug fit when the end 46 of the strut 44 is inserted ingrooves 58 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of the runners 4. The grooves 58 shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 are each made of 4 inch U-shaped 2.5 pound aluminumsection secured to the I beams 34 to provide a 1 inch (2.54 centimeter)thick wall between the grooves 58 and about 105° angle subtend by theplane of the supporting surface of the strut 44 and the plane of thebase 28 for packing stability.

The slanting strut 50, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, includes a pair ofangle members 92 having their short legs spaced apart by a 1 inch (2.54centimeters) thick, 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) wide and 4 inches (10.16centimeters) long aluminum spacer 94. End 52 of the strut 50 is mountedin grooves 60 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 formed in a similar manner asgrooves 58 show in FIGS. 5 and 6. The end 52 of the strut 50 isdetachably secured by bolt and nut assembly 52 (see FIG. 3) with theplane of the strut 50 and the plane of the base 28 subtending an angleof about 51°. An aluminum plate about 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) wide,1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick and 153/4 inches (0.4 meters) long issecured between the members 92 to provide an end 54 which is insertablebetween spacers 96 at end 56 of the vertical strut 44 (see FIG. 10) anddetachably secured together by nut and bolt assembly 57 as shown in FIG.3.

The supporting surface of the back support 30 and the base 28 areprovided with 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick insulation board 95. Glasssheets about 1/4 inch (0.64 centimeters) thick, and 64 inch (1.6 meters)square have their end 29 supported by the base 28 and held in agenerally vertical position by the back support 30 as shown in FIG. 3.The glass sheets are separated in groups of 25 by spacers 96.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and with specific reference to FIG. 13,front restraint 32 includes a pair of uprights 64 pivotally mounted at66 to a 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick steel platform 68 having a widthof about 41/2 inches (11.4 centimeters) and a length of about 53/4inches (14.6 centimeters) with a 1/2 inch deep, 53/4 inches (14.6centimeters) long guideway 98 for maintaining the platform 68 on surface70 of the runners 34. A pair of fingers 72 each made of 1 inch (2.54centimeter) diameter steel rod, 41/2 inches (11.4 centimeters) long andeach welded to a 13/4 inches (4.445 centimeters) wide, 41/2 inches (11.4centimeters) long plate member 100 are secured to the platform 68 by nutand bolt assembly 74. A pair of angle members 102, 18 inches (2.3meters) long and spaced 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) apart have their ends103 joined to a 1/4 inch (0.64 centimeter) thick steel member 104 havinga length of about 12 inches (0.3 meters) and a width of about 3 inches(7.62 centimeters). Ends 106 of the angle members 102 are joined by anut and bolt assembly 110 to steel tab 108 mounted to the platform 68.

Angle members 112 about 54 inches (1.3 meters) long and spaced 3 inch(7.62 centimeters) apart by pins 114 similar to the pins 88 (see FIG.10) have their end 116 joined by nut and bolt assembly 118 to tab 120 ofthe member 104. The surface of the front restraint 64 engaging theoutermost sheet has a 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) insulation board 122 asshown in FIG. 3.

The upright 64 of the front restraint 32 are slid by way of the platform68 along its respective runner 34 to urge the insulation board 122against the outermost sheet. The nut and bolt assemblies 74 aretightened after which the uprights 64 are urged against the outermostsheet and held in position by ratchet and strap assembly 78. Theassembly 78 has end 82 secured to a pin 114 of the uprights of the frontrestraint 32 and the other end 80 of the assembly 78 secured to a pin 88of the vertical strut 44 of the back support 30.

Additional racks may be assembled and loaded as previously discussed.The glass sheets are generally unloaded from the racks 22 in the reverseorder in which they were loaded. The racks 22 may be disassembled in thereverse order in which they were assembled.

As can be appreciated, the above example is presented for illustrationpurposes only and is not limiting to the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A front restraint for a rack for shippingarticles on a vehicle, wherein the rack is of the type having a pair ofspaced elongated runners, each of the runners having a horizontalsupporting surface and an opposite second surface; back support means;and means for mounting the back support means on the runners,comprising:at least one upright having a first end and a second end;means for slidably mounting the first end of said upright on thesupporting surface of one of the runners; and means engaging theopposite second surface of the runner when the second end of saidupright is tilted toward the back support means for locking saidslidably mounting means on said one of said runners.
 2. The frontrestraint as set forth in claim 1 wherein:said slidably mounting meansincludes:a first plate; a second plate having opposed first and secondsides; and a third plate having opposed first and second sides; saidlocking means includes:means for mounting said second and third platesadjacent the second surface of said one of said runners with second endsof said second and third plates adjacent and spaced from one another;and means for biasing said first plate toward the horizontal supportingsurface of said one of said runners and at least one of said second andthird plates toward the second surface of said one of said runners. 3.The front restraint as set forth in claim 2 wherein the thickness of thesecond end of the second and third plates is greater than the thicknessof the first end of said second and third plates.
 4. The front restraintas set forth in claim 3 wherein opposed sides of said first plate andfirst sides of said second and third plates extend beyond sides of thehorizontal supporting surface of said one of said runners and saidmounting means and biasing means of said locking means includes:nut andbolt assemblies joining the second side of said second plate to adjacentside of said first plate and joining second side of said third plate toadjacent side of said first plate.
 5. The front restraint as set forthin claim 4 wherein said second and third plates engage their respectiverunner when the upright is tilted toward the back support means.
 6. Thefront restraint as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vehicle has aflatbed having a supporting surface and a longitudinal axis extendingbetween expected advancing end and trailing end of the flatbed, anupright slidably mounted on each of the runners and furthercomprising:the pair of runners each having a longitudinal axis; meansfor securing the runners on the supporting surface of the flatbed withthe runners in spaced relation to one another with the axis of therunners and the axis of the flatbed positioned in the same direction;the back support means having a surface for supporting the articles tobe shipped in a generally vertical position; and the mounting meanssecures the back support means to the pair of runners with the surfaceof the support means transverse to the axis of the pair of runners. 7.The front restraint as set forth in claim 6 wherein said uprights aretilted toward the back support means by strap means having one endsecurable to said respective one of said uprights and the other endsecurable to said back support means.
 8. The front restraint as setforth in claim 6 wherein the articles are glass sheets.
 9. The frontrestraint as set forth in claim 6 wherein said back support meansincludes:a pair of first struts each having a first end and a secondend; a pair of second struts each having a first end and a second end;said securing means includes means for maintaining the first end of saidfirst struts and the first end of said second struts to saidlongitudinal runners with the first end of said first and second strutsmounted on their respective runner in spaced relation to one anotherwith their second ends adjacent one another; and means for fastening thesecond end of said first struts to respective second end of said secondstruts.
 10. The front restraint as set forth in claim 5 wherein saidmaintaining means include spaced channels in each of said runners forreceiving said first end of said first and second struts.
 11. The frontrestraint as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said runners includesan elongated member having a horizontal supporting surface and anopposite second surface, andsaid slidably mounting means on each of saidrunners include:a first plate; a second plate having opposed first andsecond sides; and a third plate having opposed first and second sides;said locking means includes:means for mounting said second and thirdplates adjacent the second surface of its respective one of saidelongated members with second ends of said second and third platesadjacent and spaced from one another; and means for biasing said firstplate toward the horizontal supporting surface of said respective one ofsaid elongated members and at least one of said second and third platestoward the second surface of said respective one of said elongatedmembers.
 12. The front restraint as set forth in claim 11 wherein thethickness of the second end of the second and third plates is greaterthan the thickness of the first end of said second and third plates. 13.The front restraint as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking meansfor each upright engages its respective second surface when said uprightis tilted toward the back support means to move said second and thirdplates into engagement with their respective runner.
 14. The frontrestraint as set forth in claim 12 wherein opposed sides of said firstplate and first sides of said second and third plates extend beyondsides of the horizontal supporting surface of said respective one ofsaid elongated members and said mounting means and biasing means of saidlocking means includes:nut and bolt assemblies joining the second sideof said second plate to adjacent side of said first plate and joiningsecond side of said third plate to adjacent side of said first plate.